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Eighteen Years In: The Joy of Getting It Just Right

Eighteen years. Eighteen years of flour-dusted aprons, early mornings, wild dreams, and lessons I never saw coming. When I started this bakery, I had no grand plan. Just a deep love for baking. I didn’t know where it would take me, no business plan.

 

Over the years, we grew—sometimes faster than we could handle. We had big units, big teams, big ambitions... and with them came big overheads, rising ingredient costs, rent increases, and wages that weighed heavy. It looked like success from the outside, but inside, I was learning some of the hardest lessons about sustainability, burnout, and the difference between growth and fulfilment.

The truth is, when you run a business from your heart (and not a spreadsheet), it’s easy to miss the red flags. I knew our last location wasn’t right for us. But grit, hope, a legally binding lease, and sheer stubbornness kept me going longer than I should have. It’s only now that I truly understand the cost of pushing against what doesn’t feel good.

Hospitality has had a brutal few years. Unpredictable customer habits, economic rollercoasters, and rising costs have impacted everyone—from tiny independents to the big names. Being small does mean we can move fast and adapt quickly—but it also means every win feels hard-fought, and every loss, personal.

There was a time I’d panic at the thought of similar businesses popping up nearby. The fear of competition would creep in, making me question what I was doing and if it would still be enough. But that feeling has gone now. I feel grounded in what I offer. There is space for everyone, and I truly wish others luck on their own path. It takes bravery to create something from scratch, and I’ve learned that contentment is far more powerful than comparison.

In January 2025, I turned a corner. This current space—our (almost) tiniest yet—is everything I didn’t know we needed. It’s calm. It’s joyful. It’s sustainable. It’s the very best of me, finally in one place. No more tears over rising costs and bills, no more fear of whether we would make it this month.

We don’t have the footfall of a bustling high street. We don’t have room for mass production. But what we do have is peace of mind, positive energy, creative freedom, and just enough of everything we need. The overheads are tiny. The output is high. And the love from customers is immeasurable.

Life is different now, I am the happiest I have been for a very long time. 

I’ll probably never be a millionaire. But I’ll be happy and I have come to the conclusion that happiness is enough. 

Here’s to the quiet wins.

Kiersten x

 



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